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Gary and Craig Witheford are specialist trainers of horses with behavioural issues.  Having been known as the 'go to man'  for starting stalls issues for many years, Gary has been totally dedicated to his work in racing since he first 'got the bug' at a young age.  

With Craig joining the team over 15 years ago, together they have become well respected in the industry.  With Gary's repeated hints at retiring (that'll be the day!) Craig is poised to continue the good work so the last couple of years has seen many  changes in the business and this continues into 2020.

With an ever-growing demand from Trainers all over the UK, Ireland & Europe, we offer a unique service at trainers' yards all over the UK, dealing with horses who have issues with starting stalls.  This also involves follow up attendance at racecourses all over the country for stalls tests and support for tricky cases on a race day.

Gary is also an Official Advisor to the Turkish Jockey Club, spending several weeks each year in Turkey, training the stalls teams, stewards and starters and advising on welfare and safety improvements.

Gary's passion for improving racing also brought about the introduction of Barrier Trials in the UK. 

These were introduced at Lingfield Park in April 2015 and are organised by Witheford Equine.  They have become a key part of many trainers' programmes, with Wolverhampton Racecourse becoming involved in 2019.  Gary and Craig believe these trials are key to supporting trainers throughout the UK and the aim is to introduce trials at other tracks in the future.

Since we stopped accepting residential remedial cases, changes have been put in place for the next phase in our transformation.  With the excellent facilities at Westcourt Stables, the team is continuing our work with the rehoming of ex-racehorses as well as providing livery for horses needing post-operative rehabilitation, convalescent or retirement livery and holiday grazing for racehorses.

If Horses Could Talk is co-written by award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author Brough Scott. Gary’s story is told through the prism of the horses and animals that have most affected his life.

The book starts with Gary's terrible sexual abuse as a child, and how he managed to overcome this. Animals and horses in particular became a central part of Gary's life as a direct result of his abuse. His inspiring and uplifting stories about these horses and animals will amuse and fascinate.

Gary says: “My life has been inspired as well as saved by horses and I hope that telling my story can inspire others too.”

Available in Hardback or Paperback here or see our Merchandise page for signed copies

 Westcourt Stables, Westcourt, Burbage

Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3BW

Tel :  01672 811423

Fax : 01672 811416

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Please help us to gather donations of equine supplies to take to Cuba! We really want to help the horsemen of Cuba to care for their valued equines!